Explosive actuated fastener setting means for use with a cartridge magazine



March 10, 1970 EXPLOSIVE ACTUATED FASTENER SETTING MEANS FOR USE WITH A CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1967 n. M M RR a, m ml mm. {Km A m 5. m T I fill L I WH HJ 8N\\ Ila. -4fl.-fl;i Awik fl? a! flllllllkllll O8- 1 if r.1illl I n m W Wei r \I V, m a 8 8 mm i i/k l T Q 3 x mm R W W-BAY "mm-r fill/V6 HARTWMIAV/IEBEKI w. BAYER "ET AL 3,499,590 EXPLOSIVE ACTUATED FASTENER SETTING MEANS FOR USE March 10, 1970 WITH A CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE 4 Sheets-Sheet z 0 Filed Sept. 1, 1967 k m 000000000 A X \M xg mm r J/ gfim/ m J W gm m H L 5 R m wk \Qk m QM mm JR R if Q Q m [N v'wv' k:

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W-BAYER ETAL 3,499,590 OR USE March 10, 1970 EXPLOSIVE ACTUATED FASTENER SETTING MEANS F WITH A' CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 1, 1967 woLraAnl BA Y5K Eill K M E fi/E "Wm m w m KKM n m M iv u/ 0D I ."w. BAYER ETAL 3,499,590 EXPL OSIVE ACTUATED FASTENER SETTING MEANS, FOR USE March 10,1970

mm A CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE Filed Sept. 1. 19 67: {Sheets-Sheet 4 m 1 102 113 rou q FIG. 7 7

S n T m 8 0 wBMc. Mn .7 .M n 4 7 6a a GUM nnmumm xwm 4F .3 4/ MM DEA. wan l 7 6. m m, n m 5 2 2. 8 vm I 0 G H H United States Patent O US. Cl. 227- 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An explosive actuated fastener setting means includes a barrel arranged to receive a fastener to be set, a cartridge seat communicating with the barrel and extending normal to the axis of the latter, a handle, and a cartridge magazine. The cartridge magazine is slidably positioned in a magazine guide channel which is disposed beneath the cartridge seat and extends normal to the latter. The cartridge magazine carries a plurality of cartridges having, when the magazine is positioned in the guide channel, their axes extending parallel to the cartridge seat.

The cartridge seat is movable, relative to a breech, between a firing position and a loading position. In the loadposition, a cartridge injector displaces a cartridge from the magazine into the cartridge seat and, in the firing position, a firing pin is operable to fire the cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a known explosive actuated fastener setting means for use with a cartridge magazine, the cartridges are disposed coaxially one behind the other in a bushing-type magazine insertable into the handle part of the setting device or means. A spring is engaged between the bottom of the magazine bushing and the lowermost cartridge, so that the stack of cartridges is under a constant spring pressure. A breech mechanism at the upper end of the magazine bushing prevents a cartridge from being ejected from the magazine by the compression spring, and this breech mechanism is shiftable to permit automatic movement of the cartridges from the magazine into a cartridge seat, aligned with the magazine, when the setting means is operated.

Explosive actuated fastener setting means of this type have various drawbacks. The magazine bushing, together with the compression spring and the breech mechanism, represents an expensive part from a manufacturing standpoint, and its value exceeds that of the cartridges contained in the magazine. For this reason, it is not economical to design the magazine as a discardable or throw-away part and, from this, it follows that the cartridges, unless the user is willing to pay twice the price for the same, cannot be furnished already stacked in a magazine. Consequently, the operator must re-use the magazine and must reload it himself. This is time consuming for the reason, among others, of the presence of the compression spring contained in the magazine bushing. Consequently, from the overall standpoint, the use of the fastener setting means as a cartridge magazine-type becomes uneconomical.

Due to the fact that the speed with which the cartridge magazine moves from the firing position into loading position and vice versa depends on the manner in which the setting mechanism or means is handled while being pressed against the target material and, therefore, varies,

ice

there is the danger of the cartridge jamming during its motion, caused by the magazine spring, out of the magazine into firing position, and, this may lead to functional disorders or even to accidents. This is particularly true when so-called rim-fire cartridges are involved, and when the introduction of the last cartridge of the magazine into firing position is involved, because the spring is already relaxed at this time and has correspondingly less force to guarantee rapid injection of the cartridge into firing position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to explosive actuated fastener 9 setting means of the cartridge magazine type and, more particularly, to an improved and simplified fastener setting means of this type operable with discardable cartridge magazines.

In accordance with the invention, an explosive actuated fastener setting means is provided which is usable with a cartridge magazine which can be produced at reasonable cost and which can be loaded with cartridges at the factory. Furthermore, the cartridge is discardable after use, and the setter and cartridge magazine combination is such that introduction of the cartridges from the magazine into the setting mechanism is safe from both a functional viewpoint and an operating viewpoint.

The invention is based upon the principle of providing a relatively elongated magazine guide channel disposed below the cartridge seat and extending normal thereto. This guide channel receives the cartridge magazine for slidable movement therealong, and the cartridge magazine carries the cartridges with their axes parallel to the cartridge seat. By virtue of this principle, the magazine can be designed as a throw-away part in an economically feasible manner. Furthermore, the magazine can be designed so that the cartridges, individually controlled, are introducible into the cartridge seat in an operationally and functionally safe manner. Due to the fact that the magazine channel can be disposed with its longitudinal extent parallel to the barrel of the fastener setting means, the entire length of the fastener setting means is available for the magazine channel. This permits stepwise introduction of the cartridges into the cartridge seat by moving the magazine itself, in its loading position, relative to the cartridge seat. This has a very advantageous eifect, with respect to the provision of the cartridges in a magazine and supporting them in the magazine as well as with respect to the exact introduction of the cartridges into the cartridge seat.

The magazine channel is preferably designed to be penetrated, in a direction coaxial with the cartridge seat in the loading position of the setting means, by a spring biased, retractable plunger which pushes the cartridge out of the magazine into the seat. The spring biasing of the cartridge injection plunger enables automatic control.

In a preferred design of the setting mechanism of the invention, the barrel thereof, including the cartridge seat, can be swung up with respect to the handle part of the setting means or mechanism. The barrel is thus pivoted, with respect to the cartridge magazine, around a pin located near the front end of the barrel. The pivotal barrel is equipped with a stop lever movable into two positions. In a position occupied when the barrel is pivoted upwardly, the stop lever protrudes into the path of motion of a relatively elongated stop secured as a unit with the cartridge injection plunger and extending in parallel laterally spaced relation to the plunger outside the magazine channel. In the closed position of the barrel, the stop lever is out of engagement with the stop movable with the plunger. These elfects are attained by a pivoting motion about another axis.

The advantage of this arrangement is that, upon upward pivoting of the barrel, which movement is also utilized in a known manner to eject the empty cartridge shell, a stop lever, retracting the cartridge injection plunger into its starting position below the cartridge magazine, is brought into the path of motion of the cartridge stop movable with the injection plunger. During subsequent closing motion of the barrel, the plunger is thus pushed downwardly by the stop lever, through the associated stop, and, in the fully retracted position of the plunger, the stop is released by the stop lever to release the plunger for cartridge injecting action.

The cartridge magazine is formed with a longitudinally extending groove or channel intersecting the several cartridge compartments therein. In association with this groove, the magazine channel has a retractable stop extending thereinto and protruding into the path of motion of the cartridges transported, while still mounted in the magazine, and having their bottom areas exposed because of the groove in the cartridge magazine. Thus, the magazine, which is stepped longitudinally of the guide channel by spring pressure, is arrested at the cartridge nearest the cartridge seat without the necessity for additional means for displacing the arresting means after every stepwise motion of the cartridge magazine.

To assure that an empty magazine can be easily extracted manually from the magazine channel after the last cartridge has been fired, the length .of that portion of the magazine channel between the cartridge injection plunger and the open end through which a new magazine is inserted is dimensioned shorter than the overall length of the particular magazine being used.

A problem encountered with prior art fastener setting means of the type mentioned above is that of arranging the cartridge injector and the firing pin in such a manner, with respect to the cartridge magazine, as to insure not only a reliable injection of the cartridges in the magazine into the cartridge seat but also to assure a firing arrangernent which guarantees easy and reliable firing. Another problem is that of providing the setting means with a construction such that it is not necessary to cock the injector and the firing pin by pressing the setting means against the target material, as to do so is disadvantageous with respect to manipulation of the setting means because of the necessarily greater bearing pressure which must be exerted.

In accordance with the present invention, this problem is solved by mounting the cartridge injector and the firing pin to move essentially perpendicular or normal to the direction of motion of the cartridge magazine, so as to be axially reciprocable, and for providing the injector, the firing pin or both to be cocked by pivoting the barrel part of the setting means to the closed position. In a preferred design of the setting means, the cartridge injector and the firing pin, including the components associated therewith, are located in the handle, which assures good space utilization. Cooking of the cartridge injector and firing pin by pivoting the barrel to a closed position facilitates handling of the setting means, because it requires less bearing pressure than necessary with setting means in which at least the firing pin is cocked by pressing the setting means against the target material.

Preferably, the lateral spacing of the firing pin from the cartridge injector is made to be equal to, or to be a multiple of, the center-to-center spacing of the cartridge receiving chambers in the cartridge magazine. Thereby, both the cartridge injector and the firing pin can travel unhindered through the cartridge receiving chambers.

The safety of the fastener setting means of the invention is improved by providing a safety distance or spacing between the tip of the firing pin and the bottom of a cartridge when the firing pin is cocked. This safety distance or spacing is so selected that a cartridge, remaining in the cartridge magazine and located above the firing pin, cannot be exploded by actuating the firing pin.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved explosive actuated fastener setting means for use with a cartridge magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fastener setting means utilizing a cartridge magazine which is disposable or of the throw-away type.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved fastener setting means including a magazine guide channel disposed beneath a cartridge seat and extending normal to the latter, with the guide channel receiving, for movement longitudinally thereof, a disposable cartridge magazine carrying a plurality of cartridges having their axes parallel to the cartridge seat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved explosive actuated fastener setting means for use with a disposable cartridge magazine and in which a cartridge injector, a firing pin, or both are cocked by movement of a pivoted barrel to a closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved explosive actuated fastener setting means of the type mentioned and arranged for easy extraction or an empty magazine and easy insertion of a new magazine.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide an improved explosive actuated fastening setting means, for use with a disposable cartridge magazine, and having good utilization of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an explosive actuated fastener setting means including a safety feature preventing engagement between the tip of a firing pin and the bottom of a cartridge when the firing pin is cocked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a fastener setting means embodying the invention with parts located outside of the sectional plane being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the barrel flipped up;

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the fastener setting means, to a larger scale than in FIGS. 1 and 2, and illustrating the setting means at the moment of closing the barrel;

FIG. 3a is an elevation view of the cartridge injector plunger of FIG. 3, looking in the direction IIIa;

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view through a cartridge magazine used in the fastener setting means of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 4, but to a larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line VIVI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of explosive actuated fastener setting means in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the setting means shown in FIG. 7 and taken along the lines VIII- VIII of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines IXIX of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, a stud gun, or explosive actuated bolt setter or fastener setting means, is illustrated as having a handle part 1 to which is secured a magazine channel 2 receiving a cartridge magazine 3, with channel 2 and magazine 3 extending parallel to the shooting direction. The barrel part 4 of the setting means is mounted on magazine channel 2 for longitudinal reciprocation in the shooting direction. At its front end, considered in the shooting direction, barrel 4 is arranged to pivot upwardly in the direction of arrow by means of a double-strap connection 5 and a pin 6, secured to extend between the halves of the double-strap connection 5 and through an elongated slot 7 of magazine channel 2. Thus, pin 6 is movable longitudinally of slot 7.

The front part of barrel 4 has located therein a guiding insert 11) for nails or bolts 11 to be driven. As will be clear from FIG. 1, the nails or bolts 11 are restrained from falling out by means of a spring-loaded stop ball 12 forming a stop engageable with a cup or washer 11a pulled over bolt or nail 11. The front end of a piston 9 extends into the rear end of guide insert 10, and piston 9 is guided in barrel bore 4a of barrel 4. The piston drives bolt or nail 11 into the target material after explosion of a cartridge 14. The rear or inner portion of barrel bore 4a terminates in a bore 4b of substantially reduced cross section and into which extends, at right angles or normal thereto, a cartridge seat 13. When barrel 4, or its guide insert 10, is pressed against the target material, cartridge seat 13 moves out of the cartridge receiving or loading position shown in FIG. 1 into the firing position as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Cartridge seat 13 serves to receive a cartridge 14 which is injected thereinto from cartridge magazine 3 by a cartridge injector plunger 16. As may be seen from FIG. 1, plunger 16 extends across and through magazine channel 2, and is arranged coaxially with cartridge seat 13. The plunger is so shiftable in the receiving position shown in FIG. 1 that the upper edge 16a thereof moves out of the position below cartridge seat 13, as shown in FIG. 1, into a position below the plane formed by the bottoms of cartridges 14 arranged in magazine 3. For this purpose, plunger 16 is biased upwardly or in a cartridge injecting direction by a spring 17, and it has a stop 18 firmly secured thereto by a welded joint 18b, as best seen in FIG. 3a.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, a dual arm lever 20 is pivotally mounted on barrel part 4 above plunger 16, by means of a pin 21. Lever 20 has arms 20a and 20b. A torsion spring 22 is wound around pin 21 and has one end engaging a stop 23 on barrel part 4 and its other end engaging arm 20a of lever 20. Spring 22 thus tends to pivot lever 20 in the direction of arrow g, shown in FIG. 1. Also, as will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, stop 23 serves to limit pivotal movement of lever 20.

In the position of the setting means shown in FIG. 1, edge 20b of arm 20b of lever 20 rests against magazine channel 2, holding arm 20a of the spring biased lever 20, in the position of the setting means in which the barrel 4 is closed, in a position out of engagement with plunger 16 or its stop 18. The length of lever arm 20a, and the configuration of stop 23 limiting pivoting of lever 20, are so designed that, upon flipping barrel 4 upwardly so that arm 20b no longer engages magazine channel 2, spring 22 biases lever arm 20a into the path of motion of stop 18 of plunger 16, as best seen in FIG. 2. Upon flipping barrel 4 down to the closed position, arm 20a thus pushes plunger 16 downwardly and releases it only after edge 20b of arm 20b re-engages magazine channel 2, as shown in FIG. 3.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge magazine 3 is formed with a series of juxtaposed cartridge-receiving chambers 31 which are parallel to each other and which are opened top and bottom in a direction parallel to the axis of cartridge seat 13. Magazine 3 also has a lengthwise groove or channel 32 opening therethrough and extending through all of the cartridge chambers 31 at the bottom ends thereof. Cartridges 14 are so inserted into magazine 3 that the edge 14a at the bottom of each cartridge engages the respective cartridge-receiving chamber in the area of through groove 32. Also in this area the side walls of the magazine, considered in a transverse direction of the cartridges, are formed with a pair 6 of longitudinally extending ribs 33 between which cartridge edge 14a is clamped, thus securing cartridges 14 from falling out of magazine 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, magazine channel 2 has its front end, considered in the shooting direction, closed as at 2a, and this end accommodates a compression spring 35 one end of which bears against closure 2a of channel 2 and the other end of which bears against a sliding part 37 in the channel. Part 37 resets against magainze 3 and, under the bias of spring 35, tends to push magazine 3 rearwardly considered relative to the shooting direction. As is evident also from FIG. 6, part 37 has a U-shape, and its legs 37a engage magazine 3. The lateral spacing of legs 37a and the length of these legs are slightly larger than the diameter of cartridge injector plunger 16. Part 37 has two lugs 37b each guided in a respective groove 38 in a side wall of channel 2. Grooves 38 terminate adjacent plunger 16 to form stops for lugs 37b, thus limiting rearward movement of sliding part 37.

A stop lock 40 is arranged directly adjacent plunger 16 and behind the latter considered relative to the shooting direction. Lock 40 extends into magazine channel 2 from below at a location corresponding approximately to the position of the groove 32 in magazine 3. The loaded magazine 3, which is simply a one-piece injection molded plasno part, is inserted into magazine channel 2 in a manner such that, on the one hand, it engages sliding part 37 and, on the other hand, the rim 14a of the rearmost cartridge, cignsidered relative to the shooting direction, engages lock To provide for insertion of a loaded magazine into chamber 2, lock 40 is mounted so as to be longitudinally retractable and can, for example, be pulled downwardly and thus out of the path of movement of cartridges 14 or their bottom rims 14a, as by means of an externally accessible handle part 40a, during the time necessary for insertion of a loaded magazine 3. Considered longitudinally of the fastener setting means, lock 40 is so spaced from cartridge seat 13, when the latter is in the cartridgereceiv1ng position, that the rearmost cartridge 14, engagmg lock 40, is positioned directly below seat 13.

In a manner known per se, the setting means is provlded with a pressure safety device comprising a bolt 50 which is longitudinally shiftable at the level of the axially shiftable barrel 4, in the rear portion of handle part 1. Bolt 50 is biased forwardly by a compression spring 51. A striker pin 55 is mounted in the handle part parallel to safety bolt 50 and is interconnected with bolt '50 by a spring biased drive pin 56 which is reciprocable longitudinally of itself. Striker bolt 55 is biased by a spring 57 into positive engagement with a pivoted lever 58 whose free end carries a firing pin 59-. A trigger lever 60, pivotally mounted on the handle part, has an angled extension 61.

Insertion of a new magazine and the operation of the setting means will now be described:

Referring first to FIG. 3a, stop 18 extends parallel to plunger 16 in laterally spaced relation therewith and with its end 18a substantially above the upper end of plunger 16. Stop 18' is located laterally outside of magazine channel 2. With the parts in the position of FIG. 3, stop lever 20 is engaged with the upper end 18a of stop 18 and plunger 16 is held below magazine channel 2 and against the bias of spring 17. By grasping handle 46a, the stop 41} is moved downwardly, thu clearing magazine channel 2, so that a new magazine can be inserted into the channel until its rearmost cartridge, considered in the firing direction, is aligned with plunger 16. Stop 40 is then released and engages behind the rim of the rearmost cartridge.

By further moving the parts to the fully closed position of FIG. 1, stop lever 20, due to engagement of its arm 20b with the magazine channel, is pivoted slightly counter clockwise to release end 18a of stop 18 of plunger 16. The plunger 16 is now operable, under the bias of spring 17, to push the cartridge 14 engaging stop lock 40 into cartridge seat 13 under the bias of spring 17. The force of spring 17 is sufficiently great that the cartridge, and particularly its rim 14a, overcomes the resistance offered by the ribs 33 of magazine 3.

After a nail or bolt 11 has been inserted into the guide insert 10, the setting means is pressed against the target material. Thereby, the barrel 4 is shifted backwardly, considered from the driving direction, and shifts bolt 50 backwardly against the force of Spring 51 until the cartridge is located over firing pin 59. Simultaneously, striker bolt 55 is cocked due to being carried along by pin 56 against the force of spring 57. In this position of the setting means, trigger lever 60 is actuated and its angled extension 61 positively engages stop '56 retracting the latter from engagement with striker bolt 55. Striker bolt 55 is thus released and strikes against the lever 58 under the bias of spring 57. This pivots lever 58 to engage firing pin 59 with the cartridge to fire the cartridge.

After the bolt or nail 11 has thus been set, the setting means is disengaged from the target surface and thereby resumes the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1. Barrel 4 is then pivoted upwardly around pin 6 in the direction of arrow 1 whereby, and as best seen in FIG. 2, a cartridge extractor, generally indicated at 70, and which strikes against bolt 50 during such pivoting movement, extracts the burned out cartridge 14a. When barrel 4 is pivoted upwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2, arm 20b of lever 20 disengages the handle part or magazine chan nel so that spring 22 can pivot lever 20 into the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein arm 20a is above stop 18 of plunger 16. In such position, the free end of arm 20a engages stop 23 which also serves as a counter seat due to the spring 22.

Next, barrel 4 is pivoted in the reverse direction to the closed position shown in FIG. 1, whereupon arm 20a pushes stop 18 of plunger 16 (see FIG. 3) out of the magazine and the magazine channel to the position beneath the latter. In this position, and due to the bias of spring 33, magazine 3 is moved rearwardly until the edge of the next cartridge 14 engages lock 40. At the same time, arm 20b of lever 20 engages magazine channel 2 and pivots lever 20 against the force of spring 22 into a position in which arm 20a is disengaged from stop 18 of plunger 16. FIG. 3 shows the last phase of the disengaging process prior to the complete release of stop 18. As soon as this disengaged position is reached, plunger 16 is biased upwardly under the force of spring 17 and pushes the next cartridge into cartridge seat 13.

After all of the cartridges in magazine 3 have been fired, sliding part 37 reaches its limiting position relative to magazine channel 2, as shown in FIG. 6. In this position, legs 37b of part 37 encompass plunger 16 and push the empty magazine far enough out of channel 2 for the end of the magazine to be extracted manually. For this purpose, the length of magazine 3 is expediently somewhat greater than the distance between plunger 16 and the open end 2' of channel 2. It is advantageous to push a loaded magazine into channel 2, with plunger 16 and lock pin 40 retracted, as described above, with the aid of an empty magazine.

Finally, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upward pivoting movement of barrel 4 also serves advantageously for automatic return of piston 9 which has been moved forwardly during the driving process. For this purpose, barrel 4 has a longitudinal slot 70' through which extends a dog 71 movable in a guide 72 formed on the barrel, Dog 71 is connected at 71a to a lever 73 so it can pivot relative to this lever. The other end of lever 73 is connected to a pivot pin 74 on the magazine channel. The invention is naturally not restricted to a setting means in which a piston transmits the driving energy, but is applicable also to a setting means in which the driving energy is transmitted directly to the bolt, nail, or other fastener.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.

7, 8 and 9, there is a housing 101 on which is mounted a barrel part 102, for axial reciprocation, and a lateral handle 103. Barrel part 102 contains piston 104 for transmission of the cartridge energy to the fastener to be driven, and which latter has not been shown. However, the setting means of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 can be constructed without a driving piston. A magazine channel 105 extends the entire length of the setting means, parallel to barrel 102 and facing handle 103. Channel 105 receives magazine 107 containing cartridges 106.

At its rear end, considered from the driving direction, barrel part 102 has a cartridge seat 108 whose longitudinal axis is perpendicular or normal to that of the barrel part. In the no-load condition shown in FIG. 7, cartridge seat 108 is coaxial with cartridge injector 109. When the setting means is pushed against the target surface, the barrel part is retracted, against the bias of spring 110, into the housing so that cartridge seat 108 is coaxial with firing pin 111.

The configuration of the barrel, cartridge chamber, magazine channel, cartridge injector and firing pin can be different, within the scope of the invention, from that just described. There need only be assurance that safe injection of the cartridges from the cartridge magazine into the cartridges is possible, and that the cartridge can be fired safely. For this purpose, the cartridge injector and the firing pin must be able to travel unhindered through the cartridge-receiving chambers of the cartridge magazine.

The cartridge magazine 107 of FlGS. 7, 8 and 9 has a number of juxtaposed cartridge chambers 117 each of which contains a single cartridge 106. Further, magazine 107 has a longitudinally extending groove in the area of the cartridge bottoms 106a. When positioned in channel 105, magazine 107 is biased by a spring 118 to move oppositely to the driving direction. This motion is inhibited by injector 109 which extends through an empty cartridge chamber, and the injector assumes this position also during the firing process. This prevents magazine 107 from moving due to the recoil.

When cartridge injector 109 and firing pin 111 are in cocked condition, that is, when they are underneath magazine channel 105, cartridge magazine 107 is moved by spring 118 far enough in a direction opposite to the driving direction until bottom 106a of the next cartridge 106 strikes against stop lever 120 pivoted by spring 119 to the position shown in FIG. 7. Because of the longitudinal groove in magazine 107, only the bottom part 106a of a cartridge 106 can strike against lever 120. Lever 120 is pivotal around a pin 121, and can be moved out of channel 105 by means of a handle 120a.

Barrel part 102 is mounted for upward pivoting, in the direction of arrow 1 around a pin 112. During this upward pivoting movement, a dog 114 articulated to a lever 113 and extending through a longitudinal slot into the interior of the barrel part, returns piston 104 into its starting position. Furthermore, during such upward pivoting movement, ejector engages a notch in plunger 116 and is moved downwardly against a spring bias, to eject the fired cartridge in the cartridge seat 108.

FIG. 8 illustrates a stop 122 positioned with its axis parallel to injector 109 and reciprocable in an axial direction, stop 122 having a protrusion 122a extending toward injector 109. This protrusion extends into a recess of injector 109. From FIG. 9, it will be observed that stop 122 is also located opposite firing pin 111 and that protrusion 122a also extends into a recess of firing pin 111. Stop 122 causes both cartridge injector 109 and firing pin 111 to be cocked when the barrel part is pivoted back to the closed position.

Barrel part 102 then presses against the end portion of stop 122 adjoining it, and protrusion 122a positively engages both cartridge injector 109 and firing pin 111 and pushes both of these downwardly against the bias of springs 123 and 124, respectively. At the instant of final closure of the barrel part, the barrel part 102 releases stop 122. Spring 123 pushes cartridge injector 109 and stop 122 upwardly. The end portion of stop 122 adjacent to the barrel part thereby extends into a groove 125, as best seen in FIG. 8. Cartridge injector 109 pushes a cartridge 106, retained above it by means of lever 120, into cartridge seat 108. The force of spring 123 and the pressure area of injector 109 are so dimensioned that, in no event, is it thereby possible to fire the cartridge.

Firing pin 111 remains cocked due to lock 126 biased by spring 128 to engage shoulder 11111 of the firing pin, lock 126 pivoting around a pin 127. Firing of a cartridge located in seat 108 is possible only after the setting means has been pushed against the target material, because only then is a cartridge bottom 106a positioned above firing pin 111. Actuation of firing pin 111 is effected by a trigger 129 which is pivoted on a pin 131. The pivoting of trigger 129 causes pins 129a to operate, against the bias of spring 130, and move a bolt 132 which causes latch 126 to release or disengage the shoulder 111a of firing pin 111. Under the bias of spring 124, firing pin 111 moves swiftly upwardly and fires the cartridge which, when the setting means is pressed against the target material, is coaxial with the firing pin.

The insertion of a loaded cartridge magazine 107 takes place as follows: barrel part 102 is pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow 1, which is necessary in any case for ejection of the fired cartridge and for the return of piston 104 into its initial position. Then trigger 129 is depressed and barrel part 102 is pivoted to the closed position. Cartridge injector 109 and firing pin 111 are thereby cocked in the described manner, by being pushed beneath or below magazine channel 105. Because of the depressed trigger 129, its protrusion 12%, adjacent the cartridge injector, now engages the groove 109m of the cartridge injector, thus holding the cartridge injector in the cocked condition. The depth of groove 109a is so adjusted or selected that pin 129a of trigger 129 and pin 132 do not engage each other. Thus, actuation of the firing pin 111 is not possible.

The loaded cartridge magazine is now inserted into the guide channel, preferably with the help of an empty magazine, and it is held in the position shown in FIG. 7 by lever arm 120a. By moving trigger 129 in the fastener driving direction, cartridge injector 109 is released and thus injects a cartridge 106 into cartridge seat 108. The length of magazine channel 105 is so selected that the end portion of the cartridge magazine extends out of the open rear end of the magazine channel as soon as the last cartridge is located above the cartridge injector. After this last cartridge has been injected into the cartridge seat and the cartridge injector retracted out of magazine channel 105, the empty magazine can be extracted without difiiculty.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understod that the invention may be embodied otherwise without deparing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means for use with a cartridge magazine and including a barrel arranged to receive a fastener to be set, means forming a cartridge seat, communicating with the barrel and extending normal to the axis of the latter, and a cartridge seat breech, the cartridge seat being movable, relative to the breech, between a firing position and a loading position, and a handle; the improvement comprising means forming a magazine guide channel disposed beneath said cartridge seat and extending normal to the axis of the latter; said guide channel receiving, for movement longitudinally thereof, a cartridge magazine carrying a plurality of cartridges having their axes parallel to the axis of said cartridge seat; means operable to inject cartridges from said magazine into said cartridge seat; and cartridge firing means selectively operable to detonate a cartridge in said seat when the latter is in said firing position.

2. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said guide channel is formed with a passage therethrough coaxial with the axis of said cartridge seat in the loading position of said cartridge seat; said cartridge injecting means comprising a plunger reciprocable through said aperture to inject cartridges from said magazine into said cartridge seat.

3. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 2, including spring means biasing said plunger in the cartridge injecting direction.

4. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said barrel, together with said cartridge seat, is pivotal relative to said magazine guide channel about a pivot adjacent the front end of said barrel.

5. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 4, in which said guide channel is formed with an aperture therethrough coaxial with the axis of said cartridge seat in the loading position of said cartridge seat; said cartridge injecting means comprising a plunger reciprocable through said aperture to inject cartridges from said magazine into said cartridge seat; and a stop lever movably mounted on the free end of said barrel and movable between a first position which it occupies when the barrel is swung upwardly about its pivot and in which it protrudes into the path of movement of said plunger, and a second position, which it occupies when said'barrel is pivoted back to the closed position and in which it is free of engagement with said plunger.

6. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 5, in which said stop lever is a two-arm lever pivoted on the free end of said barrel; and a torsion spring biasing said stop lever in a direction to swing a first arm thereof into the path of movement of said plunger; the second arm of said lever, during the last phase of the closing motion of said barrel, engaging with a part of said setting means fixed relative to said guide channel to swing said first arm out of engagement with said plunger against the bias of said torsion spring. 7. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said magazine comprises a plurality of longitudinally juxtaposed cartridge chambers open at both ends and each receiving a respective cartridge, the cartridges being separated from each other by chamber walls extending transversely of said magazine; each cartridge chamber being formed to receive a cartridge therein with a tight fit; said magazine being formed with a groove extending longitudinally thereof, and intersecting all of the cartridge chambers adjacent the bottom ends of the cartridges therein.

8. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 7, comprising a stop lock extendable into said guide channel adjacent the cartridge seat in the loading position of the latter; said stop lock extending into the path of motion of the bottom ends of the cartridges in said magazine and which are exposed by said longitudinally extending groove.

9. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 8, including a part slidable in said guide channel; one end of said magazine engaging said slidable part; and a spring engaged between said sliding part and one end of said guide channel and biasing said magazine in a direction to engage the bottom of the hindmost cartridge, considered from the driving direction, with said stop lock.

10. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 9, in which said guide channel is formed with an aperture therethrough coaxial with the axis of said cartridge seat in the loading position of said cartridge seat; said cartridge injecting means comprising a plunger reciprocable through said aperature to inject a cartridge from said magazine into said cartridge seat; said guide channel being formed, directly in advance of said plunger, with stop means engageable with said sliding part to limit movement thereof in a direction opposite to the driving direction; said sliding part having a U-shape including laterally spaced legs extending rearwardly considered relative to the driving direction; the lateral spacing of said legs being at least equal to the diameter of said plunger and the length of said legs being in excess of the diameter of said plunger.

11. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said guide channel extends in both directions relative to the axis of said cartridge seat, and has an opening at its rear end, considered relative to the firing direction, for introduction of a magazine thereinto; the distance between the axis of said cartridge seat and said open end of said guide channel being less than the overall length of a cartridge magazine received in said guide channel.

12. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in which said magazine is an integral, one-piece, injection molded element of plastic composition material.

13. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in clam 1, in which said cartridge injecting means is a reciprocable plunger and said cartridge firing means is a reciprocable firing pin, said plunger and said pin being axially reciprocable substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said cartridge magazine; said barrel, together with said cartridge seat, being pivotal upwardly with respect to said guide channel around a pivot pin adjacent the front end of said barrel; and means operable, responsive to swinging of said barrel to a closed position, to cock at least one of said plunger and said firing pin.

14. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 13, in which said magazine 12 comprises a plurality of longitudinally juxtaposed cartridge chambers spaced uniformly therealong; the spacing of said plunger from said firing pin being equal to the center-to-center spacing of said cartridge chambers.

15. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 13, in which said magazine includes a plurality of longitudinally juxtaposed cartridge chambers spaced uniformly therealong; the distance between said plunger and said firing pin being equal to a multiple of the center-to-center spacing of said cartridge chambers.

16. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 13, in which, in the cocked position of said firing pin, the tip of said firing pin is spaced from the bottom of the cartridge aligned therewith.

17. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 2, in which said magazine includes a plurality of longitudinally juxtaposed cartridge chambers spaced uniformly therealong; said plunger, dur ing a fastener setting operation, extending through a then empty cartridge chamber of said magazine.

18. In an explosive actuated fastener setting means, the improvement claimed in claim 14, in which said firing pin, upon actuation, travels through a then empty cartridge chamber of said magazine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,108 7/1967 Kuavle et a1. 2218 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 532,085 1954 Belgium. 1,070,131 1967 Great Britain.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, ]R., Primary Examiner 

